Chapter one: The day he was betrayed

It was a cold Halloweens night in the small of Godric's Hollow. Small stars filled the distant sky, a slight shiver in the air. Yet, everything seemed happy, peaceful. Large pumpkins were displayed, the monstrous grins exciting the children of the small village. Nothing in the atmosphere could suggest that such a haunting crime would be occurring later that night.

Along the road, in a small warm cottage, sat a family of three. A man, tall, with untidy jet black hair sat on the sofa, his hazel eyes wide with happiness behind his circular glasses. His eyes remained transfixed on a small one year old before him, the young boy giggling with glee. The boy resembled the man greatly, with the same jet black hair. However, his eyes were not of the man. Instead of the warm colour of hazel, the boys eyes were emerald green.

A lady, with the exact same colour of the boys eyes, was sitting beside her husband, smiling lovingly at her son. Her hair was dark red and long, and was tucked behind her ears. This lady's name was Lily Potter.

"He is beautiful, isn't he?" Lily Potter said fondly. Her hand moved across to his hair, and she ruffled it, making it untidier than before.

"Yes, I suppose he is," James Potter replied, shooting red sparks out of his wand, entertaining the baby, whose name was Harry. Harry in return jumped up in excitement, his hand frantically trying to grab hold of the magical sparks. His face frowned in concentration, yet he could not catch one. Eventually, the sparks disappeared, and Harry looked around confused.

"You do think we made the right choice then?" Lily whispered, her eyes suddenly filled with worry. She started unconsciously wringing her hands, and did so until James turned away from Harry and stopped her, interlacing his fingers with hers.

"I was at the time.. but Peters been acting slightly out of character. His last visit was very...interesting." James frowned, his brow narrowed in concentration, looking very much like Harry had done moments before. "Sirius even said he has been very pale and unable to meet his eyes. I just wish I could go and see Dumbledore about all of this.." His voice trailed off, and he looked up hopefully at Lily.

"No James," she said, sighing heavily. "Dumbledore ordered we stay inside, so staying inside is what we shall do."

James growled in frustration, his head falling into his hands. "I need to go out! I cannot stay trapped in her any longer! If he hadn't had taken my cloak, it would have been easy!"

"That is exactly why Dumbledore took it!" Lily hissed angrily. "He knew that you would get bored here, and go out using that wretch-"

"Of course I'm bloody bored," he interrupted, rolling his eyes. "I barely get a chance to see Sirius or Remus anymore, and besides, what's life without a little risk?"

"An actual life," Lily snapped. "Who knows who you could wander into; You-know-who could probably see right through that stupid cloak."
"It's not stupid! It has saved my life various times!"

"Yes, from the trouble you have put yourself in! If you hadn't been getting yourself into that sort of trouble, then you wouldn't need anything saving your life."

"Like I said, what's life without a little risk?" James offered her a grin, which she didn't accept. She looked completely disgusted.

"You need to think about what is at stake James."

"I am!" He said, folding his arms, angry once more. "I would never purposely put Harry in any danger, and you know that."

"I know you wouldn't, but-"

Lily's sentence was cut off as Harry gave what sounded like a growl. Her eyes darted towards him, and saw that he didn't look very happy at all. He looked on the verge of tears."Entertain him again," she muttered, lifting him up, and pulling him into her lap.

Once again, sparks emitted from James' wand, this time blue, and Harry giggled at them, attempting to catch them.

"I think we should have stuck with Sirius," Lily mumbled, her eyes still fixed on Harry. "Or atleast picked Remus."

"I know; but Sirius had a point; it's common knowledge to anyone that Sirius is my bestfriend, even to You-know-who. And lately, he has had a thing for Werewolves; he wouldn't look twice at Peter, would he? Scrawny little Peter, a Death Eater?"

"I guess. But you know how Peter is, James. Always sticking close to someone who had power, someone who was strong; that's why he probably made friends with you all in the first place. And everyone knows how You-know-who is gaining more and more power every day."

"I know what you're saying, but Peter, Peter's my friend."

Lily sighed, watching Harry go after more sparks, this time emerald green, matching her eyes.

"And Severus was my friend," Lily whispered, her eyes filling up with tears suddenly at the thought of her child-hood bestfriend. Lately, all she could do was think about Severus Snape, and want to cry at the thought. He was everything to her; like a brother.

"It's okay," James said comfortingly. "Who cares about Snivellus?" He mean it as a joke, but Lily didn't take it that way, and glared at him through her tear filled eyes.

"I care," she told him. "He was my first friend, and that is something I am unlikely going to forget easily."

"I know, I know, but at the end of the day, there were two paths; the path to a normal happy life, you know, settling down, having kids, that sort of thing. Then there was another path, the path to evil and hatred and.. and death. And we all know what he chose."

"I know," Lily said, holding Harry tighter. "But it still hurts. I-I won't be able to forget him over night though."

"No, I suppose not."

Lily handed Harry to James, their conversation having reached its end. She leaned her head back, enjoying the sight of Harry laughing and playing with his Father. James began to gently tickle Harry's sides, and Harry roared with laughter. James placed his wand on the living room table with one hand, his other still on Harry's stomach. The baby had never looked happier.

James saw it very quick. A hooded figure walked slowly along the pavement, stopping when he reached the gate. He opened it, advancing up to the cottage door. The hooded figure could be no one except him.

"L-ily," James stuttered out.

Lily's eyes flashed up. "What?" She said, her green eyes widening in worry.

James thrust Harry into her hands, his hands shaking.

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off-" James was cut off as their door was blasted open. He watched as Lily stumbled away, holding Harry close to her chest.

He heard it. A high cold laugh, and all his insides froze. He jumped up, as Voldemort wandered into the living room, his red snake-like eyes burning from underneath the hood.

James stumbled backwards, his hand desperately grabbing for his wand. Before he had a chance to grasp it, Voldemort's cold voice erupted.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The spell hit James squarely in the chest before he had a chance to move. The green light passed through his chest, and he felt, in a split second, as though all the air had been pulled from his body, escaping the annoyed cries of agony from the depths of his lungs. He felt nothing more, and he fell, his body collapsing on the floor.

James Potter was dead.